House viewer taking photographs of our rented property

[cameocat]

We were served 6 month notice by our landlord and house is currently on the market. We can't afford to buy (house very overpriced anyway) so we will be moving. Although it is not yet 2 months prior to our end of contract date we have been flexible and allowed house viewings. Our house sitter informed me that someone who viewed the house was taking photographs. The estate agent has not asked if we are OK with this and I am unhappy that this has taken place, I feel it is an intrusion of our privacy.

AIBU to complain to estate agent and tell them I do not give consent for this to happen or is this something I should just expect and should just live with it for the next 3 months.

YANBU - write them an email removing my consent for photographs to take place
YABU - suck it up, it's what house viewers do

@omgthepain thank you, we have found somewhere to buy fortunately.

I think if the estate agents had asked and I'd been able to say they can take close ups of eg the fire place etc I would have been fine. As some people have said I would not be unreasonable, I have politely asked that they refrain from taking photos in future.

That’s a huge risk for identity theft, planning child kidnap, etc. They should not be allowed to take any photos of their own...they could capture pictures of your children, paperwork, dates on calendar.
Ie a birthday.

Estate Agents are required by law to blur out any personally identifiable information in property photos for your safety and security. That’s why professional photos should be ONLY photos done.

@PlanDeRaccordement

That’s a huge risk for identity theft, planning child kidnap, etc. They should not be allowed to take any photos of their own...they could capture pictures of your children, paperwork, dates on calendar. Ie a birthday.

Estate Agents are required by law to blur out any personally identifiable information in property photos for your safety and security. That’s why professional photos should be ONLY photos done.

Out of interest, how many children have been kidnapped in the last 10 years as a result of pre-screened viewers taking photos during house viewings? Is it big fat zero? So probably not a ‘huge risk’ at all

And you’d have to be beyond stupid to leave sensitive paperwork and financial details just lying around to be casually photographed by someone

@SW1amp
My husband works in criminal justice prosecuting child sex abusers. It happens. Don’t be an idiot to think all the people asking to view a house are innocent as newborn lambs.

You’re actually claiming there has been a prosecution in a UK court for child kidnapping based on someone doing a house viewing and gathering clues to aid the kidnapping?

It’s quite obviously never happened, why on earth make up such ridiculous scare mongering to try and score a point

Why would anyone take pics when there are some already online? I wouldn't allow that if I rented or owned. That's just weird.

Because estate agent pics are taken with weird wide angle lenses that make rooms like totally different
Because estate agent pics don’t show the patch of damp in the corner or the crack in the ceiling
Because they don’t show the view out of the window, or how overlooked the garden is, or the model of boiler or any of a million things you might want to know before buying a house

If you honestly can’t think of any reasons someone might want a record of the viewing before deciding to put in an offer, you are lacking a bit of imagination

Whatever. You are incredibly naive if you think unsupervised viewers snapping pictures of your home’s interior carry zero security risk to your identity and children whatsoever. And don’t forget the OP had no prior warning photos would be taken and so could not take any steps to secure pictures, paperwork, school logo on a school bag....etc.

@BlankTimes

It’s pretty normal for people to take photos when viewing houses

Whilst I'd be happy to have the estate agent's photos, description, floorplan etc. displayed on rightmove, I'd absolutely hate strangers walking around my home clicking away.

My possessions are none of anyone else's business.

It's not your possessions I'd be taking photos of though. It's the crack in the plaster, the suspect damp patch, the wall I'm considering knocking through, the boiler to assess quality and age.

It's a totally normal thing for a serious buyer to do. It reduces the need for a second viewing which are becoming less common in a fast moving market.

You can specify no photos, but it's unlikely to be adhered to or enforced.

It’s weird, none of the friends I have who work in child protection, the police or estate agency have ever mentioned the criminal networks using house viewings to kidnap children

Nor has a single press article or scaremongering Facebook post

It’s almost like you’ve invented it!

And despite buying and selling 4 houses, no one has stolen my identity
Must just be luck

@Mantlemoose

Why would anyone take pics when there are some already online? I wouldn't allow that if I rented or owned. That's just weird.

See my comment above.

I'd probably have less problem if it was a second viewing as this might indicate a more serious buyer.

It’s exactly the same thing and, to be blunt, it’s none of your business if it’s a “serious buyer” or not. Photos are part of the process of deciding whether a second viewing is desirable. I’d also question how you know whether there have been second viewings or offers - you’re not the agents’ clients.

I'd probably have less problem if it was a second viewing as this might indicate a more serious buyer.

We've bought a few houses in the last 5 years and there's not been an opportunity for second viewings with any.

@SW1amp

You’re actually claiming there has been a prosecution in a UK court for child kidnapping based on someone doing a house viewing and gathering clues to aid the kidnapping?

It’s quite obviously never happened, why on earth make up such ridiculous scare mongering to try and score a point

Exactly. What a wild imagination you have, @Plan. Ridiculous justification to object to prospective buyers taking photos. As a PP has stated, nobody cares about your belongings, OP. They’re there to see the property.

Absolutely tell the estate agent you don't want pictures being taken of the inside of your place by viewers.

I would follow it up with a warning that if it happens again you will not be allowing further viewings and speak to your landlord directly explaining why.

I know you think that's "too far" but it really isn't. You don't even have to let anyone in for viewings this far in advance. You're being flexible and allowing them which is fine, but if they take the piss then don't let them steam roll over you!

Check your tenancy agreement as it may say about viewings. I’ve recently been in a rental and I would not want any pictures being taken of personal pictures like family ones.

I suppose the BBC have wild imaginations too.
www.bbc.com/news/technology-56718046

Only idiots would think random strangers snapping off photos of the inside of their homes presents no risk whatsoever. It’s not a silly justification. Don’t make yourself an easy target.

@SW1amp

It’s weird, none of the friends I have who work in child protection, the police or estate agency have ever mentioned the criminal networks using house viewings to kidnap children

Nor has a single press article or scaremongering Facebook post

It’s almost like you’ve invented it!

And despite buying and selling 4 houses, no one has stolen my identity
Must just be luck

Yes you’ve been lucky.

We were in similar situation twice: we were renting while the house went on the market. We allowed viewings and even present with the first house, with the second house the owner decided to start viewings after we’ve left.
We also did a lot of viewings while house hunting and some were with tenants present, not exactly showing the property but working in the office/ sitting in the garden sort of thing.
EA behaved very differently. One of them never left us in the room when we were viewing occupied properties ( we viewed a few with this agency). Most of them let us wondered around the house while being on mobile downstairs. So I would make a written agreement ( maybe at least by email) that you insist on people wearing coveralls, not taking photos and never being left in a room on their own.
But you can’t be sure that EA will do all these so I would remove all photos, personal things etc before viewings. Just get a box in each room: put things you don’t want to be seen in it before and take them out after.

We also did photos sometimes at viewings. The most obvious reason is that we were interested in particular part of the room which is not on EA’s photos: for redecoration, fitting furniture, extension, conversion etc. Sometimes people make a picture for their partner if they are not present or to ask advice about how much certain works would cost. So I’m not surprised that people are taking photos tbh I’m more surprised that you haven’t expected this.

@PlanDeRaccordement

I suppose the BBC have wild imaginations too. www.bbc.com/news/technology-56718046

Only idiots would think random strangers snapping off photos of the inside of their homes presents no risk whatsoever. It’s not a silly justification. Don’t make yourself an easy target.

You know that story says the exact opposite of what you’re trying to say, don’t you?

Your point - viewers should stick to estate agents photos only because they have to be blurred out and approved, and if you let viewers take their own photos, your kids will be stolen and your bank accounts will be cleared out

The story - estate agency photos lead to potential identity fraud risk

Note:
There was no actual identify fraud; you are still not able to produce a shred of evidence that any child has ever been kidnapped as a result of house viewings, despite you saying it’s a ‘high risk’

@PlanDeRaccordement

I suppose the BBC have wild imaginations too. www.bbc.com/news/technology-56718046

Only idiots would think random strangers snapping off photos of the inside of their homes presents no risk whatsoever. It’s not a silly justification. Don’t make yourself an easy target.

Did I miss the bit in the article about a prospective buyer taking photos of a property they viewed who then went on to abduct a child who lived there as a result of the viewing? No, I didn’t think so. I didn’t say that there was never any risk. You’re now moving the goalpost. Life is full of risk. It was your outlandish claim that child abductions had taken place as a result . Just admit that you couldn’t substantiate your claim. No shame in that.

@SW1amp
No it doesn’t say the opposite, an estate agent making a mistake is going to be less harmful than a malicious stranger taking photos unsupervised.

Secondly, you have no evidence to the contrary but apparently have magicked up multiple “friends” to counter my one DH.

Your advice is reckless and uninformed. There is a reason why tenants have the legal right to refuse viewings and photos of their possessions.

Yes child abductions have happened. Any kidnapper looking at photos can see

1. Child’s room and approximate age of child
2. Potentially what school they attend and favourite toys
3. Lay out or floor plan of the house with potential entry points
4. Contacting estate agent can learn general family schedule, who is home when.

I can’t post actual investigative material or personally identifying information ie childs’ names you should know that if you have any so called experience.

@PlanDeRaccordement

Yes child abductions have happened. Any kidnapper looking at photos can see

1. Child’s room and approximate age of child
2. Potentially what school they attend and favourite toys
3. Lay out or floor plan of the house with potential entry points
4. Contacting estate agent can learn general family schedule, who is home when.

I can’t post actual investigative material or personally identifying information ie childs’ names you should know that if you have any so called experience.

It would surely be a big news story so I’m sure there’d be news reports.

@PlanDeRaccordement

Yes child abductions have happened. Any kidnapper looking at photos can see

1. Child’s room and approximate age of child
2. Potentially what school they attend and favourite toys
3. Lay out or floor plan of the house with potential entry points
4. Contacting estate agent can learn general family schedule, who is home when.

I can’t post actual investigative material or personally identifying information ie childs’ names you should know that if you have any so called experience.

bullshit